What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
You can start Resident Evil with either Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) or Resident Evil 7 biohazard; you do not need to play every numbered game first. Choose the Raccoon City outbreak and familiar characters Leon and Claire with Resident Evil 2, or begin with Ethan Winters and the more isolated Baker House story in Resident Evil 7. For a simple follow-up, play Resident Evil 3 and then Resident Evil 4 after the Raccoon City route, or Resident Evil Village after Resident Evil 7.
Where should I start with Resident Evil?
For a newcomer who wants a modern entry featuring established series characters, Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) is a strong starting point. It follows Leon S. Kennedy, arriving in Raccoon City for a new police job, and Claire Redfield, searching for her brother, as the outbreak leaves both fighting to survive. Capcom identifies it as a remake of the 1998 original. This is a practical recommendation, not an official Capcom play-order rule. Capcom’s series timeline gives the characters and setting context.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5 | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition - PlayStation 5 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $18.13 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you would rather meet a new lead in a more contained horror story, start with Resident Evil 7 biohazard. Ethan Winters goes to the Baker residence looking for his wife; Capcom describes the game as his first step into survival horror. His story continues in Resident Evil Village, set three years after the Baker House incident.
Do I need to play Resident Evil games in order?
No. You can choose a route based on the characters and setting that interest you instead of starting with the first game or completing every numbered entry. These routes keep the central story connections easy to follow:
#1 Best Overall
- TERRIFYING ZOMBIES WAITING AROUND EVERY CORNER -- Driven by insatiable hunger, these creatures act on instinct, gnashing their teeth, ripping at flesh, and devouring their victims. The new immersive camera lets you feel their fangs as they sink into your flesh.
- RACCOON CITY, REBUILT IN INTRICATE DETAIL -- The characters, environments, and story have all been rebuilt from the ground up to create a terrifying world that feels both nostalgic and new.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
- Modern classic-character route: Resident Evil 2 remake → Resident Evil 3 remake → Resident Evil 4 remake.
- Ethan Winters route: Resident Evil 7 biohazard → Resident Evil Village.
- Franchise-history route: Resident Evil HD Remaster, then the numbered entries in release order. Choose this if you want to begin with the series’ origins; the available official sources do not establish that it is the most accessible route for modern beginners.
Are Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes connected?
Yes. Both remakes cover the Raccoon City outbreak, but their events overlap rather than forming a perfectly tidy, strictly sequential story. Capcom’s timeline places the beginning of Resident Evil 3 one day before Resident Evil 2 and describes it as spanning the city’s final days. For a straightforward first playthrough, play Resident Evil 2 and then Resident Evil 3; you do not need to rearrange scenes to match the in-world chronology.
Resident Evil 4 continues Leon’s story in autumn 2004, years after Umbrella’s fall. It is a natural next choice if you want more of Leon after the Raccoon City games, while moving the story beyond that outbreak. Capcom’s official timeline identifies the remake relationships and places these entries in the series chronology.
Rank #2
- Amazon Exclusive - 2 sided poster included in every game!
- Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, representing a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. Grace will experience horror from the same perspective as the player as she learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story.
- For the first time ever in Resident Evil history, players will be able to freely switch between both first- and third-person perspectives throughout the game.
- An Anniversary to Remember: With March 2026 marking the Resident Evil series’ 30-year anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem marks its own milestone in the franchise.
- Pre-orders for Resident Evil Requiem are now open, with the bonus of Grace’s costume: Apocalypse. Please note that the picture weapon does not come with the costume, but it can be obtained in-game.
Should I play the Resident Evil 2 remake or the original?
If you are looking for a modern entry, the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake is the recommended starting point here: it introduces Leon and Claire during the Raccoon City outbreak. The original is the 1998 game that the remake reworks. Choose the original or Resident Evil HD Remaster if experiencing the earlier games themselves matters more to you than beginning with a modern remake. The official sources establish the remake relationship, but do not make a comparative judgment about accessibility, difficulty, or which version a beginner will prefer.
Which route fits you?
| What you want | Start here | Continue with |
|---|---|---|
| Leon and Claire, and the Raccoon City outbreak | Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) | Resident Evil 3 remake, then Resident Evil 4 remake |
| A new lead and the Baker House story | Resident Evil 7 biohazard | Resident Evil Village |
| The series’ earlier origins and release history | Resident Evil HD Remaster | Numbered entries in release order |
Check platform and edition before buying
Available platforms and editions can vary by title and region, so confirm the exact game and platform in your local store. Capcom’s official games lineup lists current titles and platform categories, but it is not a substitute for checking a specific regional store listing.
Rank #3
- FEAR COMES HOME -- Fear, combat, exploration, and item management: these are the four pillars of survival horror, a genre that has never been more masterfully executed than in the gameplay of Resident Evil. The horror continues in the ground-breaking Resident Evil 7. Step into the new Isolated View and experience true survival horror in a world created by the all-new RE Engine.
- DEEP IN THE BAYOU - When Ethan Winters opened his inbox, the last thing he expected was to find an email from his wife; she had been missing for three years. The message was simple: "Come get me," and an address in Louisiana. This leads Ethan to a decrepit mansion in the heart of the bayou. The place has a seriously creepy vibe, but Ethan continues his search – until a stranger attacks him and knocks him unconscious. Ethan has no idea what awaits him when he wakes up...for he is now in the clutches of the Baker family.
- A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- In RESIDENT EVIL 7, we're changing the way you interact with the world. For this next major entry in the series, play from a first-person point of view, dramatically increasing your ability to become fully absorbed in the world we have created.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Capcom announced the Resident Evil Remake Trilogy as a digital-storefront bundle on November 22, 2024, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam). The listed contents are Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, the Resident Evil 3 – Classic Costume Pack, Resident Evil Resistance, Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, and Resident Evil 4 – The Mercenaries. Capcom notes that the bundle’s Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition is not compatible with Xbox One; some items are also sold individually, so check your library and the bundle contents before paying to avoid duplicate purchases. The announcement describes a digital bundle, not a physical boxed set. See Capcom’s bundle announcement for its stated contents and compatibility note.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
Rank #4
- CLASSIC RESIDENT EVIL GAMEPLAY -- Overcome chilling encounters in a relentless fight for survival that ratchets up the intensity through nail-biting exploration and gripping puzzle-solving.
- EXPLORE RACCOON CITY FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- Get even closer to the action with an over-the-shoulder camera and updated control scheme, drawing you into every bloodcurdling encounter.
- SURVIVE TOGETHER IN THE MULTIPLAYER MODE -- Bring up to four friends into the carnage with Resident Evil Resistance, a multiplayer survival horror experience included in the Resident Evil 3 package. Available as a PlayStation 4 title compatible on all PlayStation 5 devices. Includes code necessary for redemption, requires additional download not on disc.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
